Two goals against Fenerbahce, six league goals before the derby and a goal in Galatasaray's first Champions League win: what Victor Osimhen's numbers show so far.
Victor Osimhen scored twice as Galatasaray beat Fenerbahce 2-1 in the Istanbul derby on Monday, a result that opened a six-point gap over their city rivals. With no Nigerian on this year's Ballon d'Or lists, the question is what his club numbers say now, and how they sit beside his first season in Turkey.
The derby: two goals and a six-point gap
According to Legit.ng, Osimhen was "the decisive figure on the night, netting once in each half to give Galatasaray the win." Fenerbahce's Irfan Can Kahveci pulled a goal back, but it was not enough to stop Galatasaray taking all three points.
The margin matters. Before kick-off, ESPN reported that Galatasaray had 19 points from eight matches, three ahead of Fenerbahce. The table on Goal's page now shows Galatasaray on 22 points from nine games, Amedspor on 20 and Fenerbahce on 16. Trabzonspor (19) and Besiktas (18) also sit between the two clubs, leaving Fenerbahce fifth.
Goal's preview adds the longer stakes: Galatasaray are chasing a record fifth consecutive Super Lig title, while Fenerbahce are trying to end a championship drought that stretches back to 2013-14.
Osimhen spoke to the media before the game and was clear about what a derby win would mean to him.
"These are the kind of games you win and you can say you're halfway through the championship."
The league numbers against his scoring-title season
ESPN reported that Osimhen had six league goals this season going into the derby. On those numbers, two more takes him to eight, which is still 18 short of the 26 league goals that won him the scoring title in 2024-25. ESPN also gives his overall record from that loan season: 37 goals in 41 appearances, as the club won the league and Turkish Cup double.
Galatasaray came into the derby on the back of two straight league wins, 3-1 over Kasimpasa and 1-0 over Genclerbirligi. Our report on the Jorge Mendes approach cites Fanatik, which counted six goals and three assists in seven appearances for Galatasaray this season as of 21 October, before the Lille game.
The Ballon d'Or timeline also shows why none of this helps him yet. The assessment period ran from 3 August 2025 to 19 July 2026, so the derby goals fall outside it. Our own report noted that Osimhen ended the 2025/26 season with 30 goal contributions in all competitions, and that he finished eighth in 2023.
Europe: from two defeats to a first win
Galatasaray's Champions League campaign began badly. They lost 3-1 to Sporting CP and then 4-1 to Barcelona, according to Punch.
The Barcelona game had a moment that Osimhen's numbers do not show. BBC Sport reported that Baris Alper Yilmaz diverted Osimhen's header past Joan Garcia, but the goal was disallowed for a marginal offside after a VAR check. Galatasaray were leading at that point, through a goal from Aleksey Batrakov, and Barcelona went on to win.
Going to Lille, UEFA's preview had Galatasaray without a win in their last six Champions League league phase matches, with one draw and five defeats, and having lost their last five away games in the competition. It also noted that their last six fixtures in the competition had produced 26 goals, an average of 4.33 per game.
The trip also took Osimhen back to a former club. Punch reported that he scored 18 goals in 38 appearances for Lille in 2019/20. On Wednesday, Galatasaray won 4-2 at Lille, with Osimhen scoring their fourth goal as the side recovered from going 2-1 down to claim their first victory of the competition, ESPN said.
Those scorelines suggest a team that creates chances and gives them up. Goal's form guide shows the same pattern: Galatasaray scored 10 goals and conceded nine in their last five matches across all competitions.
The Batrakov link
Speaking to A Spor after the final whistle on Monday, Buruk pointed to the understanding between Osimhen and Batrakov, the Russian midfielder, as a key factor in the derby win, according to Legit.ng. He said Batrakov's previous team "defended in the second half, waiting for the opponent's mistakes, but now he's come to a team that presses high up the pitch," and added: "He started doing this very well with Osimhen, and he also came into the midfield today."
Batrakov also scored Galatasaray's goal against Barcelona, BBC Sport reported. If the pressing is what wins the ball high up the pitch, that is the kind of service that could keep Osimhen's numbers climbing.
Criticism, and what he says about it
ESPN reported that Osimhen has had to contend with suggestions that criticism over matches in which he does not score affects his confidence. His answer before the derby was direct: "I just try to do my best. Most of the time, the game don't go how I want, not just for me, but for the team." He added: "But this doesn't mean I'm nervous. I came from a place where I am not scared of challenges."
He also framed his role within the team: "The club is bigger than any player."
Our report says Osimhen reportedly rejected representation from Jorge Mendes, a claim attributed to Turkish journalist Ali Naci Küçük. When Osimhen was contacted about the latest offer, he said: "Right now, all my concentration is on Galatasaray."
What comes next
Legit.ng reports that Galatasaray now turn to an away trip to Konyaspor in Konya in their next league fixture. On Goal's table, Konyaspor are 14th with eight points from nine games.
For Osimhen, the case rests on staying consistent: he needs to keep scoring in the league and in Europe, where Galatasaray have only one win so far.
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